1. A place where you trim AND where you ride.
A) upper track
B) north fork
C) bridle path
2. A draft breed AND home to a hobbit.
A) Perth
B) Shire
C) Belgium
3. Blue-tinted iris AND a type of fish.
A) sockeye
B) wall eye
C) rainbow
4. A famous pirate AND a horse breed.
A) Hook
B) Kidd
C) Morgan
HOW’D YOU DO? (Answers below.)
1. C is correct. In addition to being a place to ride, a bridle path is that shaved or clipped section of the mane starting just behind the poll. It can flatter the neck plus enables the crownpiece of the bridle or halter to lie flat. The length of a bridle path varies with breed and discipline—4 to 5 inches is common in Western horses, though reiners and others shown with long, full manes often have much less or even no bridle path at all.
2. B is correct. The Shire is a draft breed originating in the middle section of England. At around 17 hands and weighing up to a ton, shaggy-legged Shires are descended from the English “great horse” that carried armor-wearing knights into battle.
3. B is correct. A wall eye is an equine eye with a blue or pale-colored iris. According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners, such an eye is NOT more prone to developing equine recurrent uveitis or any other health problem.
4. C is correct. The Morgan breed descends from one horse, a stallion known by his owner’s name, Justin Morgan. In late-1700s Vermont, the sturdy bay was said to out-trot and out-pull all comers. Extremely prepotent as a sire, he passed his distinguishing characteristics to his get and grand-get, founding a breed.
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